‘Iron Lady’ Teaser Trailer: Meryl Streep’s Next Oscar Nomination

When word first got out that acting legend Meryl Streep would be portraying Britain’s controversial former Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, in the upcoming film The Iron Lady, just about everyone assumed the role was sure to snag the actress her seventeenth Oscar nod (and, possibly, her third win).

Now an official international teaser trailer for the Thatcher biopic has been unveiled, offering an early look at the mannerisms and accent Streep has taken on for the film. Needless to say, her performance looks to be right on the money.

The Iron Lady chronicles Thatcher’s rise to power as a political figure as the newly-elected head of the UK Conservative Party in 1975, and her becoming the country’s Prime Minister four years later. That move was literally unheard of in the traditionally male-dominated world of British politics at the time.

Like all biographical pictures concerning famous historical figures and politicians, The Iron Lady aims to offer a more intimate examination of Thatcher, including the toll her career took on her personal life and relationship with her husband, Denis (Oscar-winner Jim Broadbent).

Check out the Iron Lady international teaser trailer (via The Guardian) below:

This is overall a clever little trailer in the way it slowly builds up and properly introduces us to Streep’s take on Thatcher. For those not familiar with the theatrical preview’s musical accompaniment, that’s a sample from Clint Mansell’s Moon soundtrack, which matches the tone of the footage well enough. All in all, it does everything a proper teaser should do – namely, leave us intrigued to see more.

Managing a convincing British accent is no easy task, but Streep looks to have done just that in The Iron Lady. She also seems to have struck the right chord of refined manner and intimidating presence that Thatcher was well-known for adapting as a politician. For those of you who are not at all familiar with Thatcher’s public image, imagine a less exaggerated, real-life version of Dolores Umbridge from the Harry Potter series and you’re on the right track (with regards to how she presents herself, at least).

Working behind-the-scenes on Iron Lady is a curious mix of talent, in the form of screenwriter Abi Morgan (Tsunami: The Aftermath, Brick Lane) and director Phyllida Lloyd (Mamma Mia!). The latter is actually well-renowned for her work in the area of British theater and opera, so she’s a more natural fit to take on the life of Margaret Thatcher than her filmmaking credentials might indicate.

The Iron Lady is scheduled to reach U.S. theaters on December 16th, 2011.